Maryland considers a faster ICC

WASHINGTON – Traffic is flowing so well on the Intercounty Connector in Maryland that drivers complain it is difficult to honor the 55 mph speed limit.

Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley recently said on WTOP’s Ask the Governor program that state leaders were discussing the possibility of raising the speed limit on the new road.

But some facts need to be examined before any decision is made, transportation officials say.

“It is important to note that the ICC is a Maryland route and was not constructed to interstate standards like I-95 for example,” says Maryland Transportation Authority Deputy Director of Communications Kelly Melhem.

“An engineering study following state and federal guidelines would need to be completed to examine the geometric design, actual operations and safety history of the roadway (before any increase would be made).”

She says the ICC was designed to handle speeds of 60 mph. Even if the speed limit was increased, it would shave less than a minute and a half off the 16-mile trip.